Walsh: "You have to support someone's individual right"

Responding to NHL players refusing to wear 'Pride' jerseys

Marty Walsh, the former mayor of Boston and new executive director of the NHL Players' Association, has weighed in on the controversy surrounding some NHL players who refused to wear 'Pride' jerseys during a game last week.

Walsh said that while he supports the LGBTQ+ community and believes in equality for all, he also respects the players' right to express their views. 'You have to support someone's individual right,' Walsh said. 'If they don't want to wear a jersey, they don't have to wear a jersey. I don't agree with them, but I'm not going to force them to do something they don't want to do.'

Last week, San Jose Sharks goalie James Reimer cited religious beliefs and refused to wear a rainbow-colored "Pride" warm-up jersey on Pride night. Florida Panthers' Eric and Marc Staal cited their "Christian beliefs," in not wearing Pride jerseys.

At a press conference on Thursday, Walsh said:

"People have very different reasons why players decided not to wear the jersey...I'm personally supportive of the LGBTQ community. I always will be. And the more I get an opportunity to talk to people about this and learn more about it, I will...I don't think the LGBTQ community should feel that the NHL players are turning their back on their community. The majority of the players wore the jersey...super-majority."

On Feb. 19 the Boston Bruins hosted their "Hockey is for Everyone Night". Some players used rainbow hockey sticks which were signed and auctioned to benefit Boston Pride Hockey.